Unwinding thread



June 9, 1942. E. c. KoNTz; JR 2,285,567

"` UNWINDING' THREAD i Filed April 26, 1,941 2 sheets-sheer 1 ATTORNEYS guide 'Patented June 9, 1942 UNWINDING THREAD Ernest Charles Kontz, Jr., Rome, Ga., assigner to Tubize Chatillon Corporation, a corporation oi' Delaware ApplicationV April 26, 194.1, serial No. 390,550V

11 Claims.'

This invention relates to the unwinding of thread, and more particularly to the unwinding of two separate threads from asingle package. The invention aims to provide an improved method lof and apparatus for unwinding two separate threads from a single package. Throughout the specication and the appended claims, thread is usedgenerically to include laments, threads, yarns and the like, and epackage is used generically to include thread on bobbins or other means of supporting a package made up of two separate threads. K It is often advantageous in spinning rayon, more particularly in bobbin spinning, towind two Iseparate threads, from two separate spinnerettes or from a single spinnerette, into a single package on one bobbin. At some subsequent stage in the treatment of the threads, usually when the aftertreatment is completed and the threads are to be wound intov cones or other lcommercial e and apparatus of the invention applied to the can be subsequently handled asY individual threads.

' The invention will be better understood from the following' description taken in conjunction` with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig.A 1 diagrammatically illustrates the method O guide of Fig. l,

packages or otherwise handled as two indef pendent threads, it 'is necessary to unwind the `two threads 'from the ysingle package for subsestantially circular path approximate the package,` .one of the threads being drawn from the traveler through the center of the package and the other guide therefor. The two threads, after being drawn respectively through the'center of the package and the guide, may then be handled individually, as two threads. With the customary annular thread package appropriately supported with its hollow axis vertical, the two threads are simultaneously drawn at the same speed over one end of the package andv through the common traveler. Thence, one of the threads passes through a suitably positioned. approximate the traveler while'the other thread passes through the center of the package. Throughout the unwinding, the two threadsstay in the same relative positions with respect to each other, and neither leads or lags behind the other to any objectionable extent. Thus, the threads are unwound without danger of twisting together, and

- thread beingdrawn from the traveler through `a independent or separate and free to move .around the race.

Fig. 31s a plan of the elements shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, of a slightly modified form of traveler and cooperating ring, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of anotherv form of nular thread package 6 is appropriately supported p on a bracket or base 1. The package .is made up of two separate threads 8 and 9 wound on a cylindrical bobbin -I0. The thread package is centered on the base 1, with its hollow axis vertical, by lower and upper caps II-and` I2, respectively, tting into the ends of the bobbin.

'I'he upper` cap I2 is preferably integral with and depends from a circular ring I3, similar in construction tothe ring on a textile ring twisting machi-ne. The upper edge of the ring has a 'If-shaped race or traveller-guide I4. A traveler I5 is sprung over the race Il and is free to move on the race around the ring: The traveler may be a small piece ofwire or the like bent in the shape of the letter D. In'placing the traveler on the race, one end is placed under yone side of therace and the other end is then sprung under the other side of the race. leaving the traveler loose A tubular guide I6 Yis secured tothe base-1 in the center of the yarn package. with itsendsextending below and above the ends of the package.

In the practice of the invention, the` two threads 8 and 9 are simultaneously drawn -at the same speed from over the end of the package 6 through the traveler I5. The thread 8 passes from the traveler through a guide 21, positioned ing apparatus, such as a high speed warp beam# A ing machine, a ring twisting machine, a coning machine and the like. It will beunderstood that the two threads after being unwound from the package and passing respectively through the tubular guide I6 and the guide 21 maybe handled as individual threads. Thus, the two individual threads may be taken up on separate spindles,

I or on a single spindle, such as a warp beam, Vor any other device where it is desired to lay the two threads parallel on a single spindle. The two threads may also be drawn off from the single package by the feed-roll of a twister machine.

As the unwinding of the two threads proceeds, the traveler rotates rapidly around its cooperating ring. Should one'thread lead the other by the machine. The threads from the new bobbin may then be tied to the old threads before beingdrawn through the guides 22 and I6, thus eliminating the necessity of threading the guide and tube each time the machine is doed, thereby greatly speeding up the operation. This type of ring vand traveler also pulls the thread from the Y bobbin in such a way as to prevent the thread any great extent the-pull of the traveler will tend to put a greater tension on the leading thread and will also tend to pull the lagging thread along with it. The action is such that the two threads are maintained substantiallyr together throughout the unwinding operation. By the method of the invention, two very iine threads can be unwound from a single package at rates up to and even higher than 500 yards per minute.

Various types and forms of travelers and cooperating rings may be used in carrying out the 2 and 3 is of the conventional type used on a textile ring twisting frame and can be secured in awide variety of diierent weights. 'In Fig. 4 of the drawings, the race or traveler-guide I4' is at the circumferential edge iof the ring I3'. The traveler I5 is of the same construction as in Figs.

1, Zand 3, and is sprung around the racegl4' in I the same manner as in those figures. A j In Fig. 5 of the drawings, the thread package 6 invention. The traveler I5 illustrated in Figs. 1,

is wound on the bobbin I0, and supported on the base I by the lower centering cap II, as iii-Fig. l;

base 1. A ring I1, of larger diameter than the thread package, is carried by a ring holder I8 attached to the upper end of a tubular. sleeve I9..

'I'he sleeve IS surrounds the upright post 20 of the assembly, and can be swung around' the post `as well as up and down thereon. `The Vpost 20 also carries the base 1. The ring holder I8 may be vertically adjusted with respect to the sleeve i9 by means of ascrew 25, thus enabling ad justment of the vertical plane of the-ring so that it may be placed at the most desirable operating position.

A traveler 2I, of a type commonly used on con- The tubular center guide la is attached to the from excessive dragging over the shoulder of the bobbin, pulling the thread away from the bobbin instead vof dragging it over the bobbin, thus preventing excessive slufng. l

I claim:

1. The improvement in unwinding two separate threads from a single package which com- -ing the two threads at the same speed from the package in a path substantially concentric with the package, one of said threads being drawn from the path through the center of th'e package and the other of said threads being drawn from the traveler through a guide therefor, and handling the two threads individually after being drawn respectively through the center of the package and from said guide. v

3. The improvement in unwinding two separatethreads from a substantially-annular single package which. comprises simultaneously drawing the two threads at the same speed from the package through a common traveler arranged to ventional ring'twisting machines, is Vfree to move around theinner side-of the ring I1. The two threads 8 and 9` are simultaneously drawn from the package through the traveler 2|. From the traveler, the thread 8 passes 4upwardly through a. guide 22, outwardly through a guide 23, and v` then downwardly through a guide 24 to a winding spindle. The other thread 9 passes from the traveler 2| downwardly through the tubular guide I6,-then through the guide 24 to a winding spindle. The guide 22 is attached to the post 20 by a -clamp 26 permitting vertical and lateral adjustment of the guide. It will be evident that the two threads maybe handled separately 'as individual threads after leaving the guide 24.

Moreover, it is not necessary that the two threads be drawn through the common guide 24, since the thread 8 may be drawn directly from the guide 22 to a winding spindle or the like. f

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 5 permits the ring I'I and holder I8 to be swung out into dong position. With this type of ring, the threads 8 and 9 may be broken at the traveler in doiiing move freely in a circular path substantially concentric with the package, drawing one of said threads from the traveler through a guide above the'package and onto a winding spindle, and drawing the other ofsaid threads from the traveler downwardly'through the center of the package and onto a second winding spindle.

4. The improvement in unwinding two separate threads from a substantially annularsngle package which comprises simultaneously 'draw- .ing the two threads at the same speed from the package through a common traveler free to move aroundv a cooperating ring concentrically positioned approximate oneend of the package, one of said threads -beingdrawn from the traveler through the center ofthe package and the other of said threads being drawn from the traveler through a guide therefor, and handling the two threads individually after being drawn respectively through the center of the package and from said guide.

5. The improvement in unwinding two separate threads from a substantially annular single package which comprises simultaneously drawing the two threads from the package through acommon traveler free to move in a circular path concentrically surrounding the package approximate one end thereof, one of said threads being drawn from the traveler through the center of the package and the other of said threads being drawn from the traveler through a guide therefor, and handling the two threads individually after being drawn respectively through I the center` of the package and from said guide.

6. The improvement in unwinding two separate threads from a single package which comprises simultaneously drawing the two threads vat the same speed over the upper end lof the package through a common traveler free to move Cil package and the other of said threads being drawn from the traveler through a guide positioned above the package, and handlingthe two threads individually after being'drawn respectively through the center of the package and from said guide.

7. Inl an apparatus for unwinding two separate threads from a substantially annular single package, a support for the package, means adapted to draw the two threads from the package at the same speed, a ring adapted to be operatively mounted approximate the upper end of the package and substantially concentric therewith, a traveler having a passage therethrough freely movable around said ring, means permitting one of the threads of said package to be drawn through the passage in the traveler and through a guide therefor, and means permitting the other thread of said package'to be drawn through the passage in the traveler and through the center of the package.

8. In an apparatus for unwinding two separate threads from a substantially annular single packege, a support for the package, a ring operatively mounted on said support and adapted during unwinding of the threads to be concentrically positioned with respect to the package on said support, a traveler having a passage therethrough freely movable around said ring, means for drawing the two threads over one end of the package and through the passage in the traveler at the vsame speed, and means permitting the two threads to be handled individually after being drawn through the passage in the traveler including a guide extending through the center of the package for one thread and a guide positioned approximateone end of the package for the other thread.

- 9. In an apparatus for unwinding two separate threads from a substantially annular single package, a support for the package, a ring operatively mounted on said support and adapted during unwinding of the threads to be concentrically positioned with respect to the package on said support, a traveler freely movable around said ring under the pulling action of one of the threads, a guide for the thread which pulls the traveler positioned approximate said traveler, and a tubular thread guide operatively arranged in the center axis of the package when positioned on said support through which the other thread is drawn.

10. In an apparatusA for unwinding two separate threads from a substantially annular single package, a support for the package, a ring operatively mounted on said support and adapted during unwinding of the threads to be positioned around the package approximate one end thereof, a traveler freely movable around said ring under the pulling action of one of the threads,

a guide positioned above said traveler for receiv- A ing the thread which pulls the travelerI and a tubular guide for the other thread of the package mounted on said support` and extending through the centerof the package when positioned on the support.

ll. In an apparatus for unwinding two sepa-I rate threads from a single package, a support for the package, a ring adapted to be operatively positioned approximate one end of the package during unwinding of the threads, a traveler having a passage therethrough freely movable around said ring, means for drawing the two threads over one end of the package and through the passage in the traveler at the same speed, and means permitting the two threads to be handled individually after being drawn through the passage in the traveler including a guide extending through the center of the package for one thread and a guide positioned approximate' one end of the package for the other thread.

ERNEST CHARLES KONTZ, JR.

CERTIFICATE- oF CORRECTION. i Patent No. 2,285,667. June 9, 19142.

ERNEST CHARLES Konz, JR.

It -is hereby certified that' error appears in the printed specification of the above nunbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 51|., claim 2, for the word "traveler" read p'ath; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 28th day of July, A. D. 19kg. l

i Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Conmissioner of Patents. 

